maj

Is it necessary to stay in both Sequoia and Kings Canyon or is there a central place that you can stay in to see both parks? How far away (travel time) is Visalia. We'll probably be there 4-5 days, so travel times of 30-60 minutes isn't bad, but don't want to be spending a half day each day going to different areas. Thanks for any input.

quimbymoy

we stayed in the grant grove area, which i though was fairly convenient: grant grove cabins (more rustic) and the john muir lodge (motel-type w/tvs), plus camp sites.

unsure where visalia is so i can't help you there.
have fun!

Jun20

Visalia is 36 miles from the southern entrance (Ash Mountain) of Sequoia. However, that road (Hwy 198)has a dozen switchbacks and a hundred curves. Leaving Sequoia and going downhill isn't quite as bad, but traffic will be slow.

maj

Has anyone stayed at Stony Creek Lodge (appears to be the only one with television) or Kings Canyon Lodge?

maj

Sorry--forgot to ask. Is Three Rivers convenient to the Parks?

J_Correa

quimbymoy - My husband and I have been thinking of going up to Sequoia/Kings Canyon, and from the web site and maps, the Grant Grove area definitely looked convinient for visiting both parks. When you were there, did you stay in the motel, cabins, or did you camp? What were the facilities like? Any information would be great - thanks!

kimamom

My daughter caught her first fish at Stoney Creek. What memories! The lodge is very rustic, with very small rooms. There is a restaurant there that is fairly decent and the very small lobby is rather nice. It's very pretty in this area with lots of cool places to fish and hike.

Grant's Grove is also nice, closer to the entrance. There is a very nice gift shop, casual and fine dining restaurant there. Although the ambiance is nice, they used to put out white linen tablecloths, etc. The food is above average for a place like this. Try the trout almadine and their chocolate cakes used to be very good.

I haven't been inside these cabins, but it is in a very pretty setting, with a meadow, etc.

One place that we did really like was the Sequoia-Montecito Resort. Beautiful place with outdoor pool, spa, tennis courts, your own private lake for sailing or paddle boating, even canoes. Three very good buffet meals are included with your room and a 24 hr. hospitality bar which the kids loved.

We had a home outisde the parks and would go here frequently to hang out for the day for a minimal fee. I loved it. There is also horse back riding, etc. Met a lot of people that were from LA coming here to escape the rat race and wanted some R&R. Check it out! ***kim***

quimbymoy

hi j-
grant grove cabins were like very basic motel units. clean, comfortable but no tv or phone. there were also very very basic cabins w/o baths. you had to go outside to the shower rooms.
the john muir lodges were more comfortable, with tv and phone.
i seemed to remember that there was one restaurant at grant grove. bring a cooler with food; provisions are pretty limited. we went in the fall, so i'm unsure if there are more services open in summer.
have fun!

J_Correa

Thanks for the info. We've been going up to Yosemite for the past few years, which I love, but I am looking for someplace less crowded to spend some time. I think we will definitely have to check out Sequoia this summer.

We like roughing it - well, not completely - I like to have a daily shower and my air matress So the rustic cabins sound perfect.

I grew up REALLY roughing it - backpacking without a tent, sleeping in a mummybag on a little foam pad on the ground, eating dehydrated backpacker food, bathing in creeks. It was fun then, but I seem to have outgrown that type of fun.

Now I like to go "sissy camping" as some of my heartier compatriots like to call it

Otis_B_Driftwood

For a real wilderness experience without any crowds try the Muir Trail Ranch.

http://www.muirtrailranch.com/

maj

I called about the John Muir lodge two different times and both times they told me that there were no rooms with televisions -- that the area was too remote. Did you really have a tv in the room?

To J.Correa-- If you are planning to stay in one of the cabins, I would make a reservation now -- when I called they only had one available for 3 days--and that was in the spring (one of the ones with a full bathroom in the cabin). I think they had plenty of lodge rooms available.

Another question--if they don't have phones in the rooms--can you use cell phones in those areas?

J_Correa

Thanks for the advice about making the reservations soon.

The Muir Trail Ranch sounds great. Pricey, but it sounds like a lot of fun.

Fodorite018

J Correa--I grew up car camping, bit now much prefer the backpacking that you spoke of, lol! Those dehydrated meals are pretty tasty after a long day of hiking...can't belive I am admitting that!

quimbymoy

maj- sorry, maybe the john muir lodge didn't have a tv set! we never really watched tv and the place was nicer than grant grove cabins, so maybe i thought it did have one.

sissy camping rules!